Heading into the 2021 NFL season, we have ranked the top players at each position, despite the fact that it is probably way too early to participate in a draft. Still, in examining the top players heading into next year, we have noticed a trend at the quarterback position. All five of the top quarterbacks can score in a variety of ways. They are all mobile and quick in the pocket. Lets take a look at the top ten quarterbacks that should go off the board of your fantasy football draft.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Although Mahomes was manhandled in Super Bowl LV by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense, there is no doubt in my mind that the young stud will be back and better than ever next NFL season. Mahomes is still the most talented quarterback in the NFL and is surrounded by a plethora of talent.

Tyreek Hill is the fastest and most explosive receiver in the NFL. When lining up on Kansas City’s offense, Hill makes Mahomes a much better quarterback due to his speed and ability to find and create open space. Hill erupted last season, hauling in 87 receptions for 1,276 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 355 yards in the postseason.

When Hill is unable to take the top off of the defense, Travis Kelce drew plenty of targets. The big tight end caught 105 passes for 1,416 yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season. In the team’s three playoff games, Kelce emerged as the go-to pass catcher. He caught 31 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns in the postseason.

Mahomes completed 66.3 % of his passes during the regular season for 4,740 yards. He threw a whopping 38 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions. Nobody in the NFL should come close to producing as many fantasy points as Mahomes at the quarterback position. Not only does he have an incredible offense with several talented players to throw to, but he can also move the chains with his legs. In just 15 games last season, Mahomes ran for 308 yards and an additional two touchdowns.

Look for Mahomes to go in the second or third round of most fantasy drafts.

Prediction: 4,900 passing yards, 42 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 400 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns

2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen was incredible in his third season with the Bills. He led Buffalo to the AFC Championship game and proved that the Bills’ offense was built to run through Allen. The young signal caller was the greatest beneficiary to the Stefan Diggs trade. Diggs became Buffalo’s WR1, but he wasn’t the only dynamic weapon that Allen utilized. Cole Beasley, John Brown, and Dawson Knox all earned plenty of targets throughout the season. However, nobody could compare to Diggs. Diggs led the NFL with 127 receptions. He turned those catches into 1,535 yards and eight touchdowns.

Allen made a huge leap this past year. After throwing 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 12 games of his rookie season, Allen finished as the top quarterback in fantasy football last season. He completed just under 70 percent of his passes for 4,544 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran the ball 102 times for 421 yards and an additional eight touchdowns. He averaged 24.7 fantasy points per game. Not many quarterbacks have the dual-threat skills that Allen has learned in Buffalo. Look for him to produce another very strong outing in 2021.

Prediction: 4,500 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 575 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns

3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Although Jackson is just as skilled as Mahomes and Allen, Jackson tends to make plays with his legs more than with his arm. He has a cannon for an arm, however, his speed and agility outside the pocket make it very difficult for defenses to prevent him from piling up massive yardage on the ground.

If Jackson is going to improve upon his 2020 numbers, the Ravens are going to need to improve offensively. Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews are not nearly enough to make Baltimore’s offense elite. Last season, Jackson was asked to do way too much. He finished the 2020 season with 2,757 passing yards and 1,005 rushing yards in 15 games. He threw 26 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions, and rushed for an additional seven touchdowns. Jackson was 12th in passing touchdowns, 22nd in passing yards, 22nd in deep ball completion percentage (37), and 30th in air yards per game (214.3). All of those numbers should improve in 2021.

Jackson cannot be shy in the pocket and has to continue to let the ball fly if the Ravens are going to have any chance at representing the AFC in next year’s Super Bowl. They have been close each of the past few years. Perhaps 2021 is finally the year of Jackson and the Ravens.

Prediction: 4,000 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions, 1,100 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns

4. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

The No. 1 pick of the 2019 NFL Draft finished as the second-most productive quarterback in 2020. He improved from 17.8 fantasy points per game in his rookie season to 23.7 fantasy points per game in 2020. Murray completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,971 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also chipped in 819 rushing yards on 133 attempts for an additional 11 scores.

Murray will look to continue to improve in his third season as an NFL signal caller. So long as DeAndre Hopkins remains in Arizona, Murray will put up big numbers both in the passing and the running game.

Prediction: 4,200 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 900 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns.

5. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Assuming Prescott returns to the Cowboys, there is no reason to think he won’t be one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy football. Prescott averaged a league-best 26.9 fantasy points per game before going down with a season-ending leg injury.

The Cowboys have plenty of weapons on offense including Ezekiel Elliott. Zeke will force defenses to stop him, which should leave plenty of room for Prescott to make a play with his legs or with his arm. The Cowboys have Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup, all of whom are more than capable of being top-tier wideouts in the NFL.

Prediction: 4,500 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 600 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns.

6. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

All signs indicate that Watson’s days are numbered in Houston. The Texans are still “standing firm” in their commitment to bring back their star quarterback amidst his formal request for a trade from the organization, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Regardless of whether he plays another down with the Texans or not, Watson is still a top-ten quarterback by any person’s standards. He may even crack the top five of some experts’ rankings.

Watson can produce both with his legs and with his cannon of an arm. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,823) and produced 33 passing touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions with one of the weakest receiving corps he has ever had surrounding him. Without Hopkins, Watson was forced to rely on Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks.

Even if Watson is traded to an abysmal situation such as the Jets, he will still be a top quarterback in the fantasy realm. If he goes to a bad team, he will be forced to play catchup, and will be asked to shoulder the load on offense. If he goes to a better team with strong offensive weapons and a decent offensive line, he will be more efficient. No matter the circumstance, Watson is one of the top quarterbacks in the fantasy football world. If you can’t get Mahomes, it might make sense to wait until the middle rounds to scoop Watson.

Prediction: 4,500 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 500 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns.

7. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

The 2020 NFL MVP is surely frustrated after his Packers fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Bucs in the NFC Championship. Still, Rodgers had a phenomenal season with the Packers. He finished first in touchdown passes with a ridiculous 48, while throwing just five interceptions. His 0.8 interceptions per game ranked second in the NFL.

Rodgers was the third-highest scoring quarterback in fantasy football last season. So long as he has DaVante Adams lining up on the outside, there is a good chance that two are going to connect several times for about 100 yards and a score each and every outing. Rodgers completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 4,299 yards. He also added three touchdowns with his legs.

Although Green Bay doesn’t have many weapons other than Adams in the passing game, Rodgers is the type of quarterback that makes his teammates better. That is why regardless of whether the Packers go out and get more skill players, Rodgers will have another produce campaign.

Prediction: 4,400 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 200 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns.

8. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Wilson finished second (behind Rodgers) with 40 passing touchdowns thrown on the season. Although the Seahawks don’t have the greatest offensive line, what they do have is a plethora of weapons in the passing game. DK Metcalf has emerged as one of the best wide receivers to grace the NFL. The second-round pick for the 2019 NFL Draft exploded for 83 receptions, 1,303 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns in his second season in the NFL. Then there is slot receiver Tyler Lockett, who hauled in 100 receptions for 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns of his own. Between these two wideouts and Wilson at quarterback, the Seahawks’ passing game will be tough to stop again in 2021.

Expect Seattle to let Russ do his thing. Seattle was at its best when Wilson was permitted to throw the ball often and regularly. A loss to the Rams on Wild Card weekend cut the Seahawks’ quest for another Super Bowl short, but Wilson will be back to fight for another one next year. He is probably one of the most valuable quarterbacks with upside in fantasy football.

Prediction: 4,250 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 500 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns.

9. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brady continues to do the impossible. After winning a Super Bowl title with the Bucs, he’s not retiring on a high note. Instead, he wants to come back and defend the title. Brady, who played all 16 regular season games and a full run through the playoffs, will undergo a minor surgical procedure on his knee that head coach Bruce Arians has described as “a clean up.” This should not have any impact on a fantasy managers’ decision to draft the greatest quarterback of all time.

Brady finished the season tied with Wilson for second-most passing touchdowns in the league (40). He did throw 12 interceptions, but he was also responsible for producing the third-most passing yards in the NFL (4,616). With weapons like Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Antonio Brown, it is hard to imagine anything but repeated success for Brady and the Bucs.

Prediction: 4,500 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 100 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns.

10. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

The 2020 first-round pick was absolutely terrific in his rookie campaign for the Chargers. Herbert gave the team a chance to win just about every single game, while producing some very solid stats. The No. 6 overall pick finished the season as the tenth ranked quarterback in terms of fantasy points. He tossed for 4,356 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also rushed the ball 55 times for an additional 234 yards and five scores.

With pass-catching studs like Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, and Hunter Henry, Herbert is only going to improve in his second season in the NFL. Herbert will be 23 years old when the next season starts, so expect his maturity level and NFL IQ to continue to trend in the right direction. And as long as the Chargers’ defense continue to struggle, Herbert will have to put the team on his back. Herbert could be one of the most valuable steals in fantasy drafts.

Prediction: 4,500 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 200 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns.

The Best Of The Rest

• 11. Jalen Hurts, PHI / Age: 23 / FA: 2024
• 12. Joe Burrow, CIN / Age: 23 / FA: 2025
• 13. Ryan Tannehill, TEN / Age: 33 / FA: 2024
• 14. Matthew Stafford, LAR / Age: 33 / FA: 2023
• 15. Taysom Hill, NO / Age: 31 / FA: 2022
• 16. Kirk Cousins, MIN / Age: 33 / FA: 2023
• 17. Matt Ryan, ATL / Age: 36 / FA: 2024
• 18. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT / Age: 39 / FA: 2022
• 19. Derek Carr, LV / Age: 30 / FA: 2023
• 20. Carson Wentz, IND / Age: 28 / FA: 2025
• 21. Baker Mayfield, CLE / Age: 26 / FA: 2023
• 22. Jameis Winston, NO / Age: 27 / FA: 2021 (UFA)
• 23. Tua Tagovailoa, MIA / Age: 23 / FA: 2025
• 24. Jimmy Garoppolo, SF / Age: 29 / FA: 2023
• 25. Teddy Bridgewater, CAR / Age: 28 / FA: 2023
• 26. Jared Goff, DET / Age: 26 / FA: 2025
• 27. Daniel Jones, NYG / Age: 24 / FA: 2024
• 28. Mitchell Trubisky, CHI / Age: 27 / FA: 2021 (UFA)
• 29. Drew Lock, DEN / Age: 24 / FA: 2023
• 30. Sam Darnold, NYJ / Age: 24 / FA: 2023
• 31. Alex Smith, WAS / Age: 37 / FA: 2023
• 32. Cam Newton, NE / Age: 32 / FA: 2021 (UFA)
• 33. Ryan Fitzpatrick, MIA / Age: 38 / FA: 2021 (UFA)
• 34. Nick Foles, CHI / Age: 32 / FA: 2023
• 35. Marcus Mariota, LV / Age: 27 / FA: 2022
• 36. Gardner Minshew, JAC / Age: 25 / FA: 2023
• 37. Andy Dalton, DAL / Age: 33 / FA: 2021 (UFA)
• 38. Jacoby Brissett, IND / Age: 28 / FA: 2021 (UFA)
• 39. Dwayne Haskins, PIT / Age: 24 / FA: 2022
• 40. Nick Mullens, SF / Age: 26 / FA: 2021 (RFA)

In anticipation of its inaugural kick-off in February of 2020, the XFL has assigned eight quarterbacks to XFL teams; these quarterbacks are among the XFL’s target list of players which largely includes players formerly released from the NFL or otherwise unsigned.

A big name among these QBs is former Ohio State signal-caller Cardale Jones. The former college football standout was a three-year backup in the NFL for the Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills. Jones will join the D.C. Defenders as their presumptive starting QB.

Landry Jones, another former NFL QB who spent six years as a backup, will be headed off to join the Dallas Renegades where he will be coached by Bob Stoops, his former college coach during his years as an Oklahoma Sooner.

Another Texas team, the Houston Roughnecks, will benefit from the arm of Phillip Walker, a former standout at Temple University in Philadelphia. Walker joins the XFL after spending 3 seasons in Indianapolis with the Colts organization.

Luis Perez, a former QB at Texas A&M-Commerce and in the Alliance of American Football (AAF), will join the Los Angeles Wildcats. Perez joins the XFL following a career as a professional bowler as well.

The New York Guardians were assigned former Penn State star Matt McGloin, who also played for the Oakland Raiders for three years and started seven games for them during that span.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Jordan Ta’amu, an undrafted QB who was a two-year starter as Mississippi, will likely get the nod as the starter for the St. Louis Battlehawks come opening day.

Brandon Silvers briefly signed by the Jets last spring and a veteran of the AAF is expected to take the reins of the Seattle Dragons.

The Tampa Bay Vipers will welcome in Aaron Murray, an AAF veteran, and a four-year NFL backup QB.

Many things will be similar to the widely known NFL, 52 players on a roster with 46 active for games. However, the salaries of these players will be drastically less, with most coming in around $55,000 a year.

The next steps for the XFL will feature a two-day draft later this week and then the finalization of teams leading up to the season opener in February.

It’s finally here, folks: fantasy football season is upon us, and all of us football nuts are getting ready for our various drafts to take place. We all want the best players we can get, so I’m here to help you out in your journey toward fantasy domination.

Today, we’ll take a look at quarterbacks, usually the highest scoring position on your team. With every player, I’ll list their stats from the 2017-18 season as well as their bye weeks. You’ll also find some reasonings for why they deserve your pick, as well as a potential catch or two, because nobody’s perfect, right?

With most 12-team league formats, fantasy owners tend to take two quarterbacks on draft day, so here are my top 24 fantasy quarterbacks for this season, as well as a few bonus guys just in case you think I missed someone you’re hoping for.

1. Aaron Rodgers, GB (Bye Week: 7)

7 games: 1,675 passing yards, 16 TD, 6 INT; 126 rushing yards, 0 TD

The Good: Rodgers is the best quarterback in football, both from a fantasy perspective as well as from a “who I would want to lead my team for a season” point of view. He has consistently finished every season right at the top of the list in terms of fantasy points when he’s played he’s played in all 16 games, so this year should be no different. He’s as safe as it gets.

The Catch: He played in less than half of his team’s games last year due to a broken collarbone, an injury which as affected him in the past, although there’s not much reason to think it should happen a third time. He also lost his top target in wide receiver Jordy Nelson to the Raiders, which could hurt a bit.

2. Russell wilson, sea (7)

16 games: 3,983 passing yards, 34 TD, 11 INT; 586 rushing yards, 3 TD

The Good: Wilson may not be the second-best quarterback in football, but his fantasy value is almost unparalleled. A threat through both the pass and the run, he finished last season as the best player in all of fantasy football. Also, with the Legion of Boom all but depleted, he’ll need to score even more now that Seattle’s defense will be considerably worse than in the past.

The Catch: The Seahawks have done next to nothing to improve one of the worst offensive lines in football. Wilson was constantly running for his life last season, which could certainly be the case this year as well. That’s never a plus when it comes to fantasy.

3. Tom brady, ne (11)

16 games: 4,577 passing yards, 32 TD, 8 INT; 28 rushing yards, 0 TD

The Good: As much as most of us don’t want to admit it, Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time, and his 2017-18 MVP season at the age of 40 was just icing on the cake. He has not missed a single game due to injury since 2009 and shows absolutely no sign of slowing down.

The Catch: “Father Time is undefeated” and all that cannot be ignored, but Brady has defied that arguably more than any other athlete in the history of American pro sports. However, he did lose key weapons in wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola this past offseason and Julian Edelman will be suspended for the first four games of the season.

4. Carson Wentz, PHI (9)

13 games: 3,296 passing yards, 33 TD, 7 INT; 299 rushing yards, 0 TD

The Good: Wentz spent nearly all of 2017 showing that he’s the next great quarterback in the NFL and was well on his way to the MVP before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in Week 14. Nonetheless, he should come back at full strength for 2018, and the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles have only gotten better through some nice roster moves this past offseason.

The Catch: It’s always scary to drat a player coming off a late-season ACL tear, but that’s really the only downside. Wentz is not supposed to miss much time, if any at all, so he should still be a great fantasy pick.

5. deshaun watson, HOU (10)

7 games: 1,699 passing yards, 19 TD, 8 INT; 269 rushing yards, 2 TD

The Good: Wow, just…wow. Watson was absolutely magnificent during his rookie campaign and was on pace to demolish every rookie quarterback record in the books prior to tearing his ACL in practice leading into Week 9. He has amazing chemistry with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and the two should become one of the best QB-WR duos in the NFL as time moves forward. He can also run the bell really well, which is always a big plus in fantasy.

The Catch: Much like Carson Wentz, the ACL injury is a bit concerning, but Watson has had plenty of time to recover. You could also argue that the limited sample size is a bit of a downer, but Watson has as much fantasy upside as literally anybody in football.

6. Drew Brees, NO (6)

16 games: 4,334 passing yards, 23 TD, 8 INT; 12 rushing yards, 2 TD

The Good: Although he’ll turn 40 this coming January, Brees is still one of the best quarterbacks in football. He has thrown for over 4,000 yards in 12 straight seasons and there’s no reason to think 2018 will be any different. He also has arguably the best supporting cast he’s ever had to this point in his career, which takes an enormous amount of pressure off his shoulders.

The Catch: Again, he’s turning 40, which isn’t necessarily a good thing, but much like Tom Brady, age is just a number for Drew Brees. The emergence of rookie running back Alvin Kamara could take a couple of touchdowns away from Brees, but you could also argue that Kamara’s brilliance in the passing game is more than enough to compensate from the fact that he’ll be a bigger presence in the offense as a runner.

7. Andrew Luck, IND (9)

0 games (injury)

The Good: Luck is as talented as just about any quarterback in the NFL and has always been amazing from a fantasy perspective when healthy. The addition of offensive lineman Quenton Nelson via the NFL draft will be a huge plus in the Colts’ ability to protect their franchise quarterback, who should have a brilliant return to the field after missing all of last season.

The Catch: Luck’s nagging shoulder troubles really caught up with him last year, forcing him to miss all of last season. Whenever a player misses an entire season, it always makes fantasy players a bit wary when drafting them, but he supposedly has looked great during preseason workouts and should return at full force.

8. Cam Newton, CAR (4)

16 games: 3,302 passing yards, 22 TD, 16 INT; 754 rushing yards, 6 TD

The Good: Arguably the best dual threat in football in terms of combining passing and rushing, Cam’s fantasy ceiling is sky high. He is the obvious focus of Carolina’s offense through the air and on the ground, and the latter half of 2017-18 saw him develop really nice chemistry with versatile running back Christian McCaffrey. The addition of wide receiver DJ Moore via the draft could also prove to be a big plus for Cam’s fantasy production.

The Catch: As high as his ceiling can be, Cam has also been somewhat inconsistent from a fantasy perspective; he makes a lot of mistakes and isn’t the best passer in the world. It’s also worse keeping in mind that, under Cam’s leadership, the Panthers have never had back-to-back winning seasons. They finished 11-5 last year, so should this trend continue, his fantasy value could dip.

9. Kirk Cousins, MIN (10)

16 games: 4,093 passing yards, 27 TD, 13 INT; 179 rushing yards, 4 TD

The Good: The Vikings snagged Cousins in free agency with a huge fully-guaranteed contract and clearly want him to help them get back to the postseason. Cousins has thrown for over 4,000 in all three of his seasons as a starter, oftentimes with a serious lack of weapons. With one of the best wide receiver tandems in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs and an emerging young running back in Dalvin Cook, Cousins has his best supporting cast to date and should use that to improve upon his already impressive numbers.

The Catch: The main issue I have with Cousins this season is that he’s entering a brand new offense in which there are players just as good, if not better, than he is. It might take him longer than drafters might hope to get acclimated into Minnesota’s offensive schemes.

10. Matthew Stafford, DET (6)

16 games: 4,446 passing yards, 29 TD, 10 INT; 98 rushing yards, 0 TD

The Good: Man, I feel for Matthew Stafford. He has been consistently excellent for most of his career from a statistical perspective, but he’s rarely listed as one of the league’s top quarterbacks because he’s never had a good enough supporting cast to win as many games as other players at his position. Nonetheless, those stats are what matters in fantasy, and he’s as solid in fantasy as most when he’s healthy.

The Catch: Through the first nine seasons of his NFL career, Stafford has never had a running back rush for 1,000 yards behind him. This puts way more pressure on his shoulders in that opposing defenses specifically plan against him, which unfortunately hurts his fantasy value.

SLIDESHOW: 30 BEST SPORTS INSTAGRAMS

11. Jared Goff, LAR (12)

15 games: 3,804 passing yards, 28 TD, 7 INT; 51 rushing yards, 1 TD

The Good: After a miserable rookie season in which the Rams ranked dead last in offense, Goff bounced back something fierce in 2017. He and running back Todd Gurley led the Rams to a complete 180, as the team finished last season first in offense. Head coach Sean McVay’s high-flying offense was exactly what Goff needed to show why he was worthy of the number one overall pick in 2016. The Rams are clearly in win-now mode with the addition of wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a variety of defensive upgrades, so expect the Rams to be firing on all-cylinders yet again.

The Catch: Goff was so bad in his rookie season that even a season as great as last year isn’t enough to make him a definite QB1 pick. He could very well have a better 2018 than 2017, but I need one more season of solid play in order to have full confidence in his status as a fantasy quarterback.

12. Jimmy Garoppolo, SF (11)

6 games: 1,560 passing yards, 7 TD, 5 INT; 11 rushing yards, 1 TD

The Good: The 49ers solved their long-running quarterback woes when they traded for Jimmy G in the middle of last season. The former assumed successor to Tom Brady is 7-0 as a starter, handily winning each of his five starts in San Francisco. Garoppolo is in a perfect situation to succeed with the offensive-minded Kyle Shanahan at head coach, and the offseason addition of pass-catching running back Jerick McKinnon gives him another solid weapon to work with.

The Catch: As great a situation as he’s in, Garoppolo will still require time to reach his fullest potential in San Francisco. He could very well finish the season as a top 10 fantasy quarterback, but his somewhat limited sample size and need to grow in his current system knocks him to the last slot on the QB1 list.

13. Philip Rivers, LAC (8)

16 games: 4,515 passing yards, 28 TD, 10 INT; -2 rushing yards, 0 TD

The Good: Arguably the most reliable fantasy option of the big three 2004 quarterback draftees, Rivers has remained a player who’s normally drafted as a high-end QB2 but finishes the season as a lower-half QB1. With wide receiver Keenan Allen fully healthy, he has a high-end weapon on the outside and running back Melvin Gordon continues to improve as a secondary option for the Chargers offense.

The Catch: Rivers offers next to nothing in terms of athleticism and can actually be more of a detriment on the ground than a benefit, making it so fantasy players have to really solely on his arm, which can be a bit troubling for a quarterback who isn’t exactly elite. The Chargers’ defense is also one of the best in the NFL, which could limit Rivers’s fantasy value in the fourth quarter in games.

14. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (7)

15 games: 4,251 passing yards, 28 TD, 14 INT; 47 rushing yards, 0 TD

The Good: With running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receivers Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster, Roethlisberger has undoubtedly the best supporting cast in the NFL around him. They can all make plays on their own, so all Big Ben has to do is get them the ball and his fantasy value is immediately boosted. And that’s not to say he can’t make plays on his own, as he certainly can. He’s easily a high-end QB2, even this late in his career.

The Catch: I have a hard time believing that Roethlisberger can still put up QB1 numbers. His arm has looked progressively worse over the past couple of seasons, and he can have individual games in which he looks terrible (like when he turned the ball over five times against the Jaguar in in just one matchup). He also rarely plays all 16 games in a season, so he’s somewhat injury-prone, an issue which only escalates as players grow older.

15. Matt Ryan, ATL (8)

16 games: 4,095 passing yards, 20 TD, 12 INT; 143 rushing yards, 0 TD

The Good: Although he took a big step back from his epic 2016-17 MVP campaign, Matty Ice was still a solid low-end QB1, high-end QB 2. The Falcons are a heavily offensive team, so Ryan will always have plenty of opportunities to succeed. Throwing to a wide receiver as great as Julio Jones doesn’t exactly hurt either.

The Catch: Outside of 2016-17, Ryan has never had a truly spectacular fantasy season. He’s consistently good, but rarely great. Nonetheless, he’s a solid bet as a backup just in case your QB1 gets hurt or you need a bye week replacement.

16. Derek Carr, OAK (7)

15 games: 3,496 passing yards, 22 TD, 13 INT; 66 rushing yards, 0 TD

The Good: The 27-year-old Carr has shown flashes of brilliance in his relatively young career and is unquestionably the future of the Raiders franchise and their offensive focus. Wide receiver Amari Cooper had a down year last season but has all the talent needed to improve, and the addition of Jordy Nelson could prove to be a huge asset for Carr’s progression as a quarterback.

The Catch: Carr has never put up QB1 numbers over the course of an entire season and certainly isn’t safe as your starting quarterback. It’s also impossible to tell how long he will need to adjust to new head coach Jon Gruden’s schemes, adding to the uncertainty of Carr’s upside in fantasy. Gruden also hasn’t coached in the NFL in over a decade, so we’ll have to see what happens before we can be truly confident in Carr’s fantasy value.

17. Dak Prescott, DAL (8)

16 games: 3, 324 passing yards, 22 TD, 13 INT; 357 rushing yards, 6 TD

The Good: Prescott still sits behind arguably the best offensive line in football, and running back Ezekiel Elliott is as fierce as they come on the ground, making it so that defenses have to focus on him just as much as Dak. Prescott is also a big threat on the ground, which is always great for fantasy.

The Catch: The Cowboys offense does rely heavily on Elliott, and his period of absence last year saw Prescott take a big step back in terms of fantasy value. With tight end Jason Witten retired and an uncertain wide receiver situation, it’s difficult to judge Prescott’s fantasy ceiling this season.

18. Patrick Mahomes, KC (12)

1 game: 284 passing yards, 0 TD, 1 INT; 10 rushing yards, 0 TD

The Good: Mahomes has an absolute cannon for an arm and coach Andy Reid seems excited about his potential. That arm should work wonders with a receiver as lightning fast as Tyreek Hill, and running back Kareem Hunt provides an entire other entity in the Chiefs offense for opposing defense to plan against.

The Catch: Andy Reid’s offense has always been slow and methodical, so it’s really difficult to judge how a high risk-high reward quarterback like Mahomes will fair in it. And judging by what’s come out of Kansas City’s camp so far, he doesn’t seem terribly accurate. Mahomes has a ton of upside, but tread carefully.

19. Marcus Mariota, TEN (8)

15 games: 3,232 passing yards, 13 TD, 15 INT; 312 rushing yards, 5 TD

The Good: The second overall pick of the 2015 draft continues to improve as time goes on, and he could very well break out as a star this season. He’s got nice weapons around him and the division rival Colts and Texans will both be better offensively this season, meaning that Tennessee will have to score a lot in order to keep up. Mariota’s ability to run also greatly helps.

The Catch: Mariota’s got a ton of talent, but he hasn’t shown signs of greatness in the realm of fantasy to this point. Many expected last season to be a breakout campaign for the young QB, but that didn’t come to fruition. He’s a pretty safe QB2 with upside, but don’t expect him to lead your team in points scored.

20. Alex Smith, WAS (4)

15 games: 4,042 passing yards, 26 TD, 5 INT; 264 passing yards, 2 TD

The Good: After the midway point of the 2017-18 season, I found myself saying something I never thought anybody would think: “Alex Smith could totally be the MVP of the league.” He slowed down considerably in the latter half of the season, but still had his best year as a pro. Having been traded from Kansas City to the Redskins even before Kirk Cousins left Washington, the team clearly wants Smith to act as their offensive focal point.

The Catch: Smith is the very definition of a system quarterback, in that he needs to be in the exact perfect place in order to succeed. He had amazing weapons last season and thrived in Andy Reid’s offense, but he’s entering a brand new system with a significant decrease in talent around him.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

21. Case Keenum, DEN (10)

15 games: 3,547 passing yards, 22 TD, 7 INT; 160 rushing yards, 1 TD

The Good: Another “oh man, this guy could actually win the MVP” from last year, Keenum led the Vikings to an NFC Championship birth and put up nice numbers from a fantasy perspective. The Broncos clearly believe in him given their fervor in seeking him out, and he’s throwing to a pair of great wide receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.

The Catch: 2017-18 was the first season in which Keenum looked like a starting-caliber NFL quarterback. Prior to last year, he was never looked at as anything but a backup. One year of excellence after four seasons of mediocrity is not enough to instill confidence in his fantasy value.

22. Eli Manning, NYG (9)

15 games: 3,468 passing yards, 19 TD, 13 INT; 16 rushing yards, 1 TD

The Good: Eli has elite receiver Odell Beckham Jr coming back from injury and an emerging tight end in Evan Engram, so he’s got plenty of people to throw to. Add in the addition of #2 overall pick running back Saquon Barkley and you’ve got a potentially elite crew surrounding the aging quarterback.

The Catch: I’ve always thought of Eli as overrated, but he’s always been serviceable from a fantasy perspective. Last year, though, he was so awful that he was even benched for Geno Smith. His arm was a wreck and his decision making was bad, the former of which is very unlikely to improve.

24. Blake Bortles, JAX (9)

16 games: 3,687 passing yards, 21 TD, 13 INT; 322 rushing yards, 2 TD

The Good: Bortles was serviceable last season but nothing special, so a QB2 designation is safe. However, his 2015-16 showed that he can put up big time fantasy value in garbage time, which the Jags will likely have more of now that every other team in the AFC South will most certainly be better than they were last season.

The Catch: With Leonard Fournette healthy, the Jaguars offense will almost certainly go with a run-first attitude. There also isn’t much to be excited about in terms of other weapons, especially with wide receiver Allen Robinson now on the Bears, and Bortles’s own talent isn’t enough to justify him as anything more than a low-end QB2 in fantasy.

24. Mitchell Trubisky, CHI (5)

12 games: 2,193 passing yards, 7 TB, 7 INT; 248 rushing yards, 2 TD

The Good: The Bears believes in the former second overall pick, picking up weapons in Allen Robinson and tight end Trey Burton to surround Trubisky. Chicago wants to develop him as a franchise quarterback, so he should have a high work volume this upcoming season.

The Catch: We honestly just don’t know how good Trubisky can be. He didn’t look particularly great in his rookie season and he had a very limited career as a starter in college. He could be a nice fantasy asset in the future, but there’s nothing safe about him at the moment.

25. Jameis Winston, TB (5)

13 games: 3,504 passing yards, 19 TD, 11 INT; 135 rushing yards, 1 TD

26. Tyrod Taylor, CLE (11)

15 games: 2,799 passing yards, 14 TD, 4 INT; 427 rushing yards, 4 TD

27. Ryan Tannehill, MIA (11)

0 games (injury)

28. Andy Dalton, CIN (9)

16 games: 3,320 passing yards, 25 TD, 12 INT; 99 rushing yards, 0 TD

29. Josh Rosen, ARI (9)

Rookie

30. Joe Flacco, BAL (10)

16 games: 3,141 yards, 18 TD, 13 INT; 54 rushing yards, 1 TD